Thursday, May 2, 2013

Reminder: Cityhood sponsors discuss current proposals [Monday, May 6]

Members of the DeKalb House and Senate delegations, including those who have introduced legislation to create new cities or annex new areas to existing cities, will hold a Town Hall meeting on May 6, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Clairmont Hills Baptist Church, 1995 Clairmont Drive, Decatur 30033, the corner of Clairmont and North Druid Hills Road. We want all DeKalb citizens to learn about the options available to them for local governance, and how you may participate in the efforts that will be on-going this summer. PLEASE JOIN US!

House Rules of the Georgia General Assembly require that a new city may only be created over a two year term, not in one year. Legislation, listed below by primary sponsor, was filed in the 2013 Session that ended March 28, 2013, to give an opportunity procedurally to create possible new DeKalb cities of Druid Hills, LaVista Hills, Lakeside, Stonecrest, City of DeKalb, and Tucker. Also, annexation bills are pending for Chamblee and being discussed for Decatur, and legislative limitations on annexations options have also been filed. We ask neighborhood associations or groups who are reviewing current legislation, or working for or against possible new cities to describe briefly their efforts.

WE NEED YOUR INPUT! HOW DO YOU WISH TO BE GOVERNED?

The meeting will provide information on the costs of planning for new cities and the resulting possible tax implications. We will discuss procedures for legislative enactment, give a summary of ongoing cityhood activities, and learn about other governance options.

THANK YOU! PLEASE JOIN US MAY 6 AND LEARN HOW YOU MAY PARTICIPATE IN PLANNING FOR A NEW DEKALB! Thank you.

The following are bills that have been introduced and may be reviewed on the General Assembly web site by Bill number:HB 22---Primary Sponsor Mary Margaret Oliver. HB 22 sets out additional procedures and enhanced financial requirements for creation of new cities.HB 619—Primary Sponsor Mary Margaret Oliver. HB 619 passed in 2013 and allows an area in unincorporated DeKalb that adjoins Chamblee to vote to be annexed into ChambleeHB 665—Primary Sponsor Mary Margaret Oliver. HB 665 is a placemholder bill to create new city of Briarcliff/Druid Hills.HB 677—Primary Sponsor Billy Mitchell. HB 677 would create a new city of Tucker.HB 687---Primary Sponsor Pam Stephenson. HB 687 limits the ability to annex new areas to existing cities by geography.SB 270—Primary Sponsor Fran Millar. SB 270 would create city of LakesideSB 275—Primary Sponsor Jason Carter. SB 275 would create new city of LaVista Hills.SB 278---Primary Sponsor Ron Ramsey. SB 278 would create new city of Stonecrest.